The Attorney General’s Office has released the names of those involved in a fatal car crash that occurred on September 28, 2025, in North Bergen, New Jersey. The two civilians who died have been identified as Joseph Aziz, 20, of Jersey City, and Bryan Rivera, 24, of North Bergen.
Preliminary findings indicate that North Bergen Police Lieutenant Jason Appello was driving a marked police vehicle and began following a Honda Accord driven by Mr. Aziz after the car was allegedly involved in a traffic violation at the intersection of 70th Street and Tonnelle Avenue. About one minute later, at 11:18 p.m., the Accord collided with an uninvolved Toyota Corolla driven by Mr. Rivera on Tonnelle Avenue between 50th and 51st streets. Both Mr. Aziz and Mr. Rivera suffered serious injuries and were later pronounced dead.
One passenger from the Accord and three passengers from the Corolla were transported to a hospital following the collision. The passenger from the Accord has since been released, while all three passengers from the Corolla remain hospitalized.
The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability is conducting an ongoing investigation into what led up to and happened during this incident. No further information is available at this time.
A law enacted in 2019 requires that the Attorney General’s Office investigate any death occurring during an encounter with law enforcement or while an individual is in custody. This law also mandates that such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine whether evidence supports bringing charges against any officers involved.
Further details about how fatal police encounters are investigated under New Jersey's Independent Prosecutor Directive can be found here: https://www.njoag.gov/independent-prosecutor/
"The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time."
